A simple and flavorful side dish for your spring table. These Bacon Green Beans are a quick side dish to make any day of the week, and are special enough for your holiday tables. A few simple additions send the flavor over the top!
The Best Bacon Green Beans for Every Meal!
This simple recipe is a great way to encourage the whole table to eat more veggies.
Green beans are a favorite around our house. They are eaten in many ways, including this popular recipe or Cheesy Garlic Green Beans.
When we are wanting a more special dinner, this is a super simple way to make veggies crave-able!
Crispy bacon and caramelized shallots add the best flavor and texture. The simple additions take this easy green bean recipe to the next level!
We spice these up a little with Dijon mustard and red pepper flakes. If your kids need more simple flavors, skip those and add a little parmesan cheese.
You’ll LOVE this recipe because:
- CRISP fresh green beans plus CRISPY pan-fried bacon ❤️ What’s not to love?
- This side dish completes any meal – serve with Baked Chicken Thighs, salmon filets, pan-seared pork chops, or a grilled steak.
- The recipe takes about 15 minutes with just a few ingredients, making it simple enough for an everyday meal.
- The flavors are so rich and delicious, that it’s special enough for a holiday meal! Serve this for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, or Easter dinner, and save room in the oven for other dishes.
My Sharp Induction Cooktop has changed the game for me when it comes to stovetop cooking. I’m hooked and won’t ever go back to a gas range or standard electric option!
It has a simmer enhancer feature, so slow cooking is done masterfully. When it comes to quickly stir-frying veggies, it heats up quickly and gives these green beans the perfect crisp-tender bite in minutes.
What You’ll Need
- Bacon
- Shallots (or minced garlic)
- Fresh Green Beans (buy fresh green beans or string beans from a farmer’s market for the best tasting dish!)
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Dijon Mustard
- Optional: Parmesan Cheese
How to Make Bacon Green Beans
Step 1: Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and cook bacon until crisp.
Step 2: Remove bacon from skillet and place on paper towels to drain excess grease. Chop the bacon in bite-sized pieces. Drain half of the bacon grease from the pan.
Step 3: Add thinly sliced shallots to the pan, and sauté for about 7 minutes, until lightly caramelized.
Step 4: Into the skillet, add the fresh green beans, sea salt, black pepper, red chili flakes, and dijon mustard. Turn the heat up to high, and stir fry green beans for about 5 minutes, until crisp tender.
Step 5: Adjust seasonings to taste. Stir in the chopped bacon.
How to Store Leftovers
Once the green beans have fully cooled, pack in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Because of the bacon fat, these delicious green beans are best served reheated. Add the green beans back to a skillet over medium heat, and stir fry until warmed throughout.
My favorite way to repurpose these is to warm up some shredded chicken and then add the bacon green beans and heat throughout. This adds enough protein to make a complete meal.
Variations
This delicious side dish is customizable! If you’re missing one of the ingredients, look for some swaps below.
No Shallots? Instead of using shallots, add minced garlic or chopped sweet yellow onions into the recipe.
Parmesan Bacon Green Beans: If you have kids who might not appreciate the dijon flavor, omit the dijon mustard and sprinkle the green beans with 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese in step 5 when adding the bacon back into the pan. Optionally omit the red pepper flakes also.
Can I use canned green beans? If you do not have fresh green beans, canned green beans will work. Add drained green beans into the skillet instead of fresh green beans and heat throughout before adding in the bacon. Add 1 can of green beans for a smaller side dish or 2 cans for enough for 4-6 people.
